Partial Visa Restrictions Not Sanction Against Nigerians — US Envoy

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has clarified that the recently announced visa restrictions on Nigerians were not punitive measures but part of broader efforts to enhance US security and immigration procedures.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday during the visit of a US Congressional Delegation (CODEL), Ambassador Mills explained that the presidential proclamation, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026 will affect specific visa categories as part of measures to strengthen border security and protect American communities.

“The focus of the visa review is on ensuring proper vetting and credible information in the visa process, not on penalising Nigerians,” Mills said.

According to him, the proclamation outlined which visa categories will be impacted while providing clear exemptions for certain groups, including holders of official and diplomatic passports as well as individuals travelling for religious work.

He urged visa applicants to rely on the official US Embassy website for accurate details about the affected categories and exemptions, and to use the designated embassy channels for inquiries.

Also speaking, the leader of the US Congressional Delegation, Representative Bill Huizenga, emphasised that visa reviews and restrictions are routine tools used by the US government to promote compliance and cooperation among countries, rather than to punish citizens.

“The focus of such measures is primarily on government systems and processes, not on the Nigerian people,” Huizenga said, adding that similar visa reviews are regularly applied in various parts of the world.

The US government, through the announcement, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its longstanding people-to-people ties with Nigeria. It said the visa measures form part of a wider engagement aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and addressing shared security concerns.

Recall that President Donald Trump, on December 16, announced expanded entry restrictions on foreign nationals from 24 countries including Nigeria citing “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that threaten U.S. national security and public safety.